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8 Books Featuring Characters with Learning Disabilities
Meg Ryan’s character said it best in You’ve Got Mail—“When you read a book as a child, it becomes a part of your identity in a way that no other reading in your whole life does.” Reading is more than just a way to pass the time or learn something new, it molds who you are. But for children with learning disabilities, books can be both exhilarating and frustrating.
It’s hard enough to read a book when you’re struggling with a learning disability, but it’s made worse when there are no characters like you in stories. Matilda encourages children to read, sure, but what about the characters who have difficulties when it comes to words? Where are the characters that can’t tell the difference between a ‘b’ and a ‘p’? Where are the characters who are frustrated, angry, and ashamed of their struggles to read, but desperately want to succeed?
Those characters are right here in these eight books. It can be tough to get a child who is feeling discouraged by a learning disability to get some reading time in, but when they realize there are plenty of characters out there who are just like them, they’ll find inspiration and encouragement.
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A Brand-New Me!, by Henry Winkler
You may know Henry Winkler solely as The Fonz, but he’s also someone who has struggled with dyslexia and decided to turn his life into a children’s book. The Hank Zipzer series is great, but A Brand-New Me! in particular is helpful to those who are struggling with some form of learning disability. Hank is preparing to graduate elementary school, and he’s worried that his learning disability will affect how well he performs on his final exam. But with an amazing audition at a performing arts high school, Hank realizes that he may need to go down a different path. It’s a great book to not only discuss how learning disabilities can affect a child in their day-to-day life, but it also encourages kids to discover their strengths in other areas.
The Alphabet War, by Diane Burton Robb
A lot of children may not understand why reading makes them frustrated and angry, but The Alphabet War explains it beautifully with the story of kindergartner Adam. Trying to read, all he sees are a jumble of letters that look the same, and it causes changes in his behavior as he lashes out and becomes frustrated and agitated. Kids will connect with Adam, but they will also discover that they can get help and that living with dyslexia won’t stop them from being successful.
Lily and the Mixed-up Letters, by Deborah Hodge
Some children may not realize they have a learning disability until they are a little older, like Lily in Lily and the Mixed-up Letters. After acing kindergarten, Lily finds herself struggling in second grade as the letters jumble in her brain, making her frustrated. By reading out loud with her mom and friend, Lily realizes that everybody has strengths and weaknesses and her difficulties in reading don’t have to define her.
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Thank You, Mr. Falker, by Patricia Polacco
A classic, for sure, and a great way to talk about learning disabilities and how people are willing to help. In Thank You, Mr. Falker, Patricia Polacco tells the story of a little girl based off of her own experiences as a student. Trisha has dyslexia, but it takes a special teacher named Mr. Falker to realize what Trisha needs and to help her overcome her difficulties. For every child who felt they were alone, this powerful story is a testament to the incredible teachers and support network your little one has.
My Name is Brian, by Jeanne Betancourt
My Name is Brian is the perfect book for those who are sensitive about their disability or scared to tell their friends. The title character tries to hide his dyslexia from his friends, especially when everyone thinks he’s lazy or dumb. But a sixth grade teacher finally realizes that Brian isn’t a dummy—he’s struggling because of a learning disability. Share this with your children who understand their disability, but need a reminder that they are worth more than their dyslexia and that they aren’t lazy or stupid.
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The Vicar of Nibbleswicke, by Roald Dahl
There are few things better than Roald Dahl, especially when his whimsical stories and imaginative characters combine with educating readers about dyslexia. In The Vicar of Nibbleswicke, the vicar is having quite the problem—he reads words backwards, but only the most significant word in a sentence. Imagine the trouble he’s in when he tries to compliment a group of women on the fact that each one of them knits (Of course, it comes out as “stinks). Fresh and funny, your child will love the vicar, especially when he figures out how to overcome his problem.
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Just Juice, by Karen Hesse
Just Juice is the story of a sweet girl who’s back in her third grade class, still struggling to read and write. But she has to overcome all of those difficulties when a letter comes to her family and she’s the only one who can read it to her parents. Proof that anyone can overcome a learning disability, no matter how alone they may feel with it.
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It’s Hard to Be a Verb!, by Julia Cook
Dyslexia isn’t the only form of a learning disability. In It’s Hard to Be a Verb!, children who have a hard time sitting still in class, paying attention, and focusing, can learn ways to cope with their “jumpy” feelings, and work around them to succeed.
What books featuring characters who overcome learning disabilities do you love?